Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-03-16
The farm aud fireside.
USE THE HARROW MORE.

Although the use of the smoothing har-
row has been generally introduced only very
lately it has proved wherever used so eX-
tremely satisfactory as weed killer that 1T
is surprising that all who know of it do not
use it. 1t is found that there is no imple-
ment on the farm which is really such la
Dor saver in getting rid of weeds or grass as
smoothing harrow. The abundant and
proper use of it indeed may be fairly said
to obviate the necessity of hoeing almost al
together. AS hoeing is at once the sloWest
and most laboriouS work on the farm, the
discovery of this use of the harrow is one
of the greatest made in the use of improved
tools. But in doing this work, it must be
borne in mind that it must be done at the
proper time. In order to odiscriminate prop
erly as to that time. we use the words of L.
B. Berry. He says:
One reason why some men do not succeed
in keeping their corn and potato crops clean
by narrowing with a smoothing harrow
when the plants are small and before they
are up, is because they do not do the work
at the right time. / have eighteen acres OF
potatoes that are almost perfectly clean /;
There is no earthly need of breaking our
backs hoeing any more when we can stand
up like men and kill weeds at the rate OF
two acres an hour, if we only do the har-
rowing at the right time. Before the weeds
appear above ground the slightest moving
will destroy them, they are so tender; but
let them get we'll started and the harrow
will kill part and hoe the rest nicely, so
that they will grow as fast as the potatoes.
Then the weeds willrob the crop largely, or
lots of hard work will have to be done. l
used to pay out about $50 a year for hand.
hoeing my potatoes, and then they were not
| <.1@.,& kH0ry 1
my pocket by narrowing and cultivating at
just the right time. 3 .s'r.
BEST VARIETIES OF FowLs.-"Whatv va
riety shall breed ?' is an ever recurring
question that receives each season ever va
rying answers. A very sensible reply is
that of the Southern Cultiuator, which is, in
brief. that no one can answer the question
better than yourself. 49, r..<'
If your yards are small your common
sense ought to tell you that large breeds,
such as light n dark Brahmas, buff or part
ridge Cochins, white Cochins or Langshans
may suit you. Either stand confinement
we'll, but need close attention to keep them
| from getting too fat. They are all good
winter layers, hatch and rear their young,
and when fully matured are of enormous
| size.
If, on the other hand, your runs are un-
limited, the Leghorns, Ganred, Houdans,
/ Spanish and Hamburgs are all good. These
are decidedly active, do better when roam
ing at large than when confined, and in fact,
are hard to keep shut up, as they fly over
fences ten feet high. They will knock a
garden crazy in ten minutes, stir up the
flower bed in fine style and assert rights on
all occasions. Of the medium class the
Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks hold un-
disputed ground. They seem to do as we'll
on small runs as large, will lay almost the
year through with good treatment, and are
large enough for all purposes. To those
who are breeding for "fancy points," the
Plymouth Rock is more popular than its
rival, the Wyandotte. Both are the pro-
duct of crosses, but the Plymouth Rock has
been bred so long that but little trouble is
experienced in securing good standard spec
linens, while in the Wyandotte not more
than one in ten will do to breed from.
But above all in breeding pure stock select
the kind that suits you best. -...
DON'T MORTGAGE THE FARM.-The Alb
beville Press and Banner truly says that
there is greater disposition than ever to
borrow money on mortgages of the farms.
This is to be regretted. A mortgage is
much worse than lien. When lien is
given the merchant will not allow the Gus
toner to contract too great debt, but. If a
mortgage of the farm IS given the merchant
is not apt to restrain the customer. In the
Fall the lien is settled when the crop is gone
but mortgage is not so easily settled.
Under no circumstances should the home
stead be- mortgaged. Better sell the last
cow and the last mule than to mortgage the
house in which you live. Nine times out of
ten the property is sold to satisfy debt.
Don't give mortgage on the home Of
your wife and children under any circum-
stances. The law in its wisdom and in its
mercy, saves that much to every family,
and it is wrong to throw away what the
law gives"
RG In making your plans don't forget the
kitchen garden. This is Il weak point on
far too many otherwise pretty well-managed
farms. "Too much fussing," is the excuse !;
but if managed rightly garden is no more
trouble, in proportion to it's profits, than any
other part of the farm. Choose a good
piece of ground near the .house-a long par
allelogram. Manure it well. Plant every
thing in drills lengthwise of the piece, and
at distances which will admit of hOrse-cul-
tivation. If commercial manures are used {,
the weeds will not be very troublesome, es-
tended to, the returns are very large, and
learned in the garden.
BS A good deal has been said and written
about the need of a farmer planning his
work ahead. But man who doesn't know
this without telling is not likely to profit by
the information. All kinds of business
must be conducted intelligenty-fa
certainly not less than any-and there is no
intelligence in not knowing where you are
to set in the plow until the team is hitched
up. Where every crop is to grow, how the
ground is to be prepared, and in fact the en-
tire management ought to be settled, so far
MS it can be, during the winter, if not before.
Both seeds and fertilizers should he ready
on time, and every implement in perfect
order before the day comes to begin work
on the land.
AN INQUIRY 'ANswERED.-How would
good ashes and ground bone do for corn as Il
fertilizer, or ashes and plaster?
If the writer has plenty of good wood
ashes and ground bone he need not despair